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Jos Verlooy wins the Longines Grand Prix of Rotterdam

Friday, 22 June 2018
CSIO5* Rotterdam 2018

Photo (c) Jenny Abrahamsson Jos Verlooy and Caracas won the Longines Grand Prix of Rotterdam. Photo (c) Jenny Abrahamsson.

Jos Verlooy (BEL) claimed the victory in the CSIO5* Longines Grand of Rotterdam on Friday night, riding the 13-year-old Caracas (Casall x Colman).

“I’m very happy. My horse jumped incredible. I was close a few times to win a 5* Grand Prix and today it happened so I’m delighted, delighted with my horse and delighted to win here in Rotterdam. I really didn’t want to be second today,” Verlooy said after his win.

As expected, Alan Ward build a challenging course with several questions for the 50 horse-and-rider combinations to answer. The time allowed was one of the challenges, and kept five riders out of the jump-off – that in the end consisted of 11 riders.

In the jump-off, the second fence – previous fence no. three – fell over and over again. It was a vertical placed on seven strides after the triple bar that was the first jump in the shortened course. Several riders made six strides to save some time, but instead they ended up with a pole on the ground.

Although Verlooy had riders ahead of him falling victim to this fence, he still went for the six strides: “My trainer Harrie Smolders gave me a few tips and said that the six strides were longer than expected so I started with a good gallop to the triple bar so I landed far enough behind and could get the six in the hand.”

Arthur da Silva (SUI) with Inonstop van’t Voorhof (Nonstop x Fortuin Z) was the first one to clear the jump-off, after Niklaus Rutschi (SUI) with Cardano CH (Chameur x Apartigene v. Schlösslihof), Lisa Nooren (NED) with VDL Groep Sabech d’Ha (Qredo de Paulstra x Talent Platiere) and Alexis Deroubaix (FRA) with Timon d’Aure (Mylord Carthago x Drakkar Des Hutins) all had a fence down. Also the next rider – Patrice Delaveau (FRA) with Aquila HDC (Ovidius x Bollvorm’s Lauriston) ended the shortened course with four faults.

Jos Verlooy was next to go and with full speed from start to finish, he took over the lead in 43,69 seconds. Steve Guerdat (SUI) and Bianca (Balou du Rouet x Cardento) had the chance to take over the lead, but when Guerdat gave his all to the last fence and didn’t quite make it in the amount of strides he hoped for Bianca squeezed in half a stride and had no chance of clearing the last fence.

Olivier Philippaerts (BEL) with H&M Ikker (Ogano Sitte x Up to Date) was another rider that had to see the second fence fall – as so many before him. Last year’s Grand Prix winner Peder Fredricson (SWE) gave it a good go to repeat his win – this year riding H&M Christian K (Namelus R x Calvados), but crossed the finish line in 44,67 seconds going in to runner-up position.

“I’m very happy with my second place and very happy for Jos – it was a great win for him. My horse jumped great. He is not so easy to turn, so the jump-off course suited him really well. I really like these jump-off courses since it is nice for the horses when it is not so sharp turns,” the Swedish rider said after ending second.

Laura Kraut (USA) with Confu (Contact Me x Cambridge) got a mistake on the third fence leaving it up to Janika Sprunger (SUI) with Bacardi VDL (Corland x Kannan) to decide the outcome of the class. Sprunger, with the very well jumping Bacardi VDL, couldn’t do anything about the two best times but went into third with a time of 46,04 seconds. 

 


Text and picture © World of Showjumping



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